Enugu State Government has acted decisively to end a disturbing case of underage marriage in Enugu Ezike, Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area. The teenager, reportedly forced into marriage, had not been attending school and confirmed she never wanted the union.
Following the viral spread of the story on social media, the Commissioner for Gender, Women and Children Affairs, Ngozi Eni, intervened. Efforts to get the involved parties to explain themselves failed, prompting the authorities to arrest the girl’s parents, the groom’s parents, the groom, and the matchmaker—a native doctor named Patience.
The teenager’s claims revealed that the groom was an only son, and his parents sought to secure a wife for him, disregarding the legal age and rights of the girl. The matchmaker, meanwhile, claimed ignorance of the law prohibiting child marriage. The Ministry’s legal team provided guidance on the Child Rights Law and the penalties for such violations.
The arrested parties have been handed over to security authorities for further investigation, while the rescued teenager, Amarachi, will remain under the care of the ministry. The state government also pledged to support her education and overall wellbeing.
The swift action drew praise from the Concerned Igbo-Eze North Youth (CINY), who lauded the collaboration between the government, the ministry, and the Nigeria Police Force. CINY highlighted that this intervention reinforces the state’s commitment to protecting children and enforcing laws against abuse and underage marriage, emphasizing that no one is above the law.